Chapter 36
Chapter
Thirty-Six
TORIN
T he sun is high in the sky, beating down on the training grounds with the kind of heat that makes the air shimmer. It’s perfect for what I have in mind. My muscles are loose, ready for the fight, the rhythm of combat coursing through me. I can already hear her approach, the sound of Sable’s boots hitting the earth as she strides toward me with that cocky little smirk on her face. She’s ready for whatever I throw her way, but I know exactly how to goad her.
“Kitten,” I call out as she steps into the clearing, twirling the blade in her hand, eyes sharp and calculating, “you’re looking extra feisty today. Did Kael work you over too much? Or are you just that eager to prove you can keep up with me?”
She doesn’t even flinch at my words. Instead, she grins, the cocky little thing. “You talk too much, Torin. Maybe you should show me how much you really can keep up.”
I chuckle darkly, flicking the end of my staff against the dirt, the sound echoing around us. “Oh, I’m more than happy to show you. But you know,” I step forward, leaning in with a grin that’s all teeth, “you never answered my question, kitten. How was your time with Kael? I’m sure you two spent plenty of time... getting to know each other.”
Her eyes narrow, just slightly. That’s her way of pretending she’s not affected by what I’m saying. “What’s it to you?” she shoots back, trying to hide the blush creeping up her neck as we circle each other.
I tilt my head, savoring her reaction. “Oh, nothing, nothing at all.” I spin my staff in my hands, watching her closely. “Just curious, you know? It’s not every day I get to hear about you and my brothers... spending time together.”
I strike quickly, testing her reflexes, moving fluidly. She blocks with ease, but I’m already on the move again, pressing her to react. Her eyes never leave me, the intensity between us thickening.
"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?" she mutters as she parries my strike and tries to land one of her own.
“Oh, kitten,” I say, spinning to the side, just narrowly avoiding her blade, “you know I can never resist the urge to see how far I can push you.”
She huffs, her frustration starting to show as we engage in a fast-paced dance of blows and dodges. I make sure to keep her on the defensive, never giving her a moment to breathe.
"Kael and I didn’t just talk, if that's what you're wondering," she snaps, her tone sharp, biting back her bashfulness with defiance. "We... spent the night together. Why? You jealous?"
I grin like a wolf, circling her again. "Jealous?" I chuckle darkly. "No, sweetheart. I'm not jealous." I throw a quick feint and then launch at her from the other side, catching her off guard as she’s too busy trying to work out how to get under my skin. “But I’m curious. How did Kael fuck you? Was he slow? Gentle? Or did he just claim you like he does everything else?”
I see the flash of annoyance in her eyes, and she lunges at me with a fierce strike, but I sidestep her, catching her by the wrist and flipping her to the ground in one fluid motion. The move is quick—too quick for her to react—and she’s on her back, pinned beneath me, her breath catching from the sudden shift.
I lean over her, my grin widening as I press my weight into her. “Did he fuck you good, kitten?” I murmur, eyes locked on hers. “Did he claim you like a good little pet?”
She glares up at me, clearly not amused, but there's something else in her gaze. That fight—it's never truly gone. Her teeth clench as she rolls her hips up into mine, and I feel the stir of her desire.
"Fine," she says through gritted teeth, her face flushed. "Yes. We did. Now, can you get off me, or are you planning to take me right here?"
I laugh, pulling away just enough to let her squirm beneath me. "You sure you want me to get off, kitten? Because the way you're moving under me... doesn't exactly say ‘get off’.”
She manages to scramble, pushing me back with a quick shift of her body. Her eyes are filled with something I can’t quite place—frustration, yes, but also the unmistakable heat of desire. She’s trying to fight it, trying to remain in control, but I can tell that she’s losing the battle.
She moves quickly, using a pressure point technique I didn’t see coming. Her palm presses against the base of my neck, just below my collarbone, and I gasp, a shock of numbness racing down my body. My vision blurs for a second, my power slipping just for a moment.
I chuckle, even though my legs feel weak. “Nice one, kitten,” I say, forcing my laughter through clenched teeth. “But you still don’t have me yet.”
Before I can fully recover, she knees me—hard—in the balls.
The air leaves my lungs in a harsh gasp, and I collapse onto the ground beside her, groaning. “Oh, you fucking bitch ,” I laugh, rolling over on the dirt, clutching my groin. "That’s going to hurt in the morning."
She laughs too, a victorious sound, but she doesn’t stop there. The little devil that she is straddles me with a smirk that promises nothing good for me. She holds a blade—my blade—up to my throat, the tip hovering just above my skin.
I look up at her, blinking through the sharpness of the pain, still grinning. “Alright, alright,” I say, my voice breathless from laughter and a little pain. “You got me. You bested me. I’ll give you that.”
She leans back slightly, still perched on top of me, that glint of pride in her eyes. “So,” she starts, tilting her head slightly, “why aren’t you jealous, Torin? Of me and Kael? You really don’t care?”
I stare up at her for a long moment, the intensity of the situation building. “Jealous?” I ask, my voice lowering to a growl. “I love my brothers, kitten. Why would I be jealous?” I laugh softly, shaking my head. “You think I care if you fuck Kael? That’s his problem. Not mine. But... you know, I think Kael’s jealousy isn’t about you. It’s about him not understanding his own feelings. And as for Finn?” I raise an eyebrow. “He’ll figure it out too. Eventually.”
Sable snorts, a laugh escaping her despite the situation. “Finn? Please. He keeps his distance, and that's fine with me. He can stay as far away as he wants.”
I can’t help but laugh too, despite the way she’s still straddling me. “You think you’ve got Finn all figured out? You’re as wrong about him as you are about me , kitten.”
She presses the blade closer, a little more seriously this time, the edge grazing my skin. The light from the setting sun glints off the steel, making it feel all the more dangerous. “You don’t really care if Kael or Finn figure it out, do you? You just want to watch the chaos unfold, don’t you?”
“Chaos?” I grin, my teeth flashing in the twilight. “Chaos is fun. But there’s more to it than that. I think you’ll be the one to help them figure it out, kitten. You’re going to teach them more than they realize.”
Her brows furrow, and for a split second, she looks like she’s about to say something. Then, instead, she just stares at me, the tip of the blade wavering against my skin.
“Hmm,” she mutters, leaning back, still perched on top of me. “I still doubt it, Torin.”
I shrug. “Well, kitten,” I say, pushing myself up slightly so I can stare directly into her eyes, “all things will happen in the time they should. And now that you’re no longer a virgin... well, that just means we can have our fun together.”
She narrows her eyes, the edge of the blade still pressed to my throat. “Keep dreaming,” she mutters.
I laugh softly, my gaze flickering to hers. “Oh, kitten,” I murmur, my voice low and filled with that unhinged humor of mine. “If you want me to visit you in your dreams, I certainly can. I can do that, you know.”
Her eyes widen just slightly, surprise flashing in them before she manages to hide it. “Wait... Is that really possible?”
I grin, my eyes dancing with amusement. “You have no real concept of how powerful our magic is, do you, kitten?” I lean in closer, my lips brushing against her ear as I whisper, “And what you’re capable of. ”
She drops the blade from my neck, and I feel a rush of breath escape me, not from fear but from the raw tension between us. Her fingers slide away from the cold steel, and she squirms in my lap, eyes flickering with something I can't quite place. She looks down at me with that fiery edge I’ve come to love about her.
She’s straddling me still, her breath a little uneven, the heat of her skin seeping through the fabric of her clothes. I can feel her pulse against mine, like we’re wired together, and that same spark of mischief dances in her eyes.
She squeaks, and before I know it, she clings to me. That little sound has a weight to it, something between surprise and anticipation, and I can’t help but laugh low in my throat.
“Kitten,” I say softly, my hands firm on her waist, keeping her close, “all things will happen in their due time.” I flex my arms slightly, pulling her down just a little more, just enough for her to feel the heat of my body beneath hers. “Patience is a virtue.”
She doesn’t say anything for a moment, but I can feel the tension crackling in the air around us. Then, slowly, she slides down my body, her legs brushing against mine as she moves, and I hold her tight, my grip like a vice. My cock is hardening, as it always dose around her. The little minx. The little sigh she lets out when her weight shifts is like a drug to me, and I could get lost in it if I’m not careful.
She leans back slightly, looking down at me with a mix of frustration and confusion. “I’m frustrated,” she admits, her voice almost a growl. “I want to know what my powers are. How to use them. All of it.”
I raise an eyebrow, feeling the heat of her frustration rippling through me. I chuckle softly, knowing this is one thing I can’t help her with. “You should talk to Finn about this,” I tell her, my voice still amused. “He’s really the expert when it comes to magic. Me?” I flex my arm, showing off the muscles underneath my tunic. “I’m more into brute strength than anything like magic.”
She laughs, but there’s a touch of exasperation in it. “I know, Torin. But it’s just... frustrating . I need to understand what I can do. What I should do.” Her eyes meet mine, searching for something in me—something she hopes will give her clarity.
“Magic is not my forte, kitten,” I say, almost apologetic, but then I can’t resist, flashing a grin that shows my teeth. “But when it comes to other ways to use that frustration, well... I’m your man.”
She rolls her eyes at me, and I can’t help but laugh. But the sound dies when I see that there’s more weighing on her than just the magic, something deeper, more personal.
“I don’t understand my place among the three of you,” she says, the words slow, like she’s trying to piece them together in her mind. “Kael told me that I was his. That I belong to him now. But then the next morning... I woke up alone in my chambers. In my own bed. If I can even call it that.”
I feel something stir inside me, something I don’t like. Kael. I thought I knew my brother, thought I understood him, but this... this wasn’t right. I feel a surge of anger, hot and burning, crawl under my skin.
“That bastard ,” I mutter under my breath, the words thick with irritation. She looks at me, surprised, but I can see the frustration in her face. I don’t want to hear that he left her like that. I don’t want to hear that he just tossed her aside when she was vulnerable, when she needed something more.
“He shouldn’t have left you like that,” I say, more to myself than to her, but she hears it. “After your first time... that wasn’t right. He should have stayed and cared for you.” My hands tighten slightly around her waist, pulling her a little closer, my gaze narrowing with intent. “I’ll speak to him about it. He’s better than this.”
Sable looks down at me, eyes scanning my face, and she sighs heavily, like she’s letting out all the air she’s been holding in. “It doesn’t matter,” she mutters. “I didn’t expect any warmth from Kael, to be honest. He’s always been... distant.”
Her words hit a little too close to home, but I won’t let myself show that. She’s right in some ways. Kael is distant, closed off. Always has been. It's how he was raised and how he learned to survive. But this ? This isn’t right. She deserves more than that.
Her voice softens, almost like she’s uncertain. “And you?” she asks, eyes meeting mine, challenging me. “What about you, Torin? What am I to you?”
I grin, letting the question roll around in my mind for a moment. I know the answer. I’ve known for a long time, but I’m not going to give it to her so easily. Not yet. I want to hear her say it. I want to see her struggle with it a little.
“You’re my kitten,” I say, my voice low and thick with meaning, the words hanging between us. “Are kittens prisoners?”
She stares at me for a moment, the challenge in her eyes flickering for just a second, and then she smirks. “No. Kittens are pets,” she says, but there’s something else in her tone now. Something that feels like... ownership .
I chuckle darkly, enjoying the play of words between us. “Perhaps,” I say, leaning in just a little closer. “But cats are the freest creatures. They come and go as they please. You come and go as you please, kitten. ”
She cocks her head, raising an eyebrow at me. “Then can I go?” she asks, a little too cheekily for my liking. “Can I leave whenever I want?”
I don’t let her go yet. Instead, I pull her closer, feeling the press of her body against mine. She’s testing me, pushing my limits. And I’m more than happy to play along.
"I hope that you will come more than you go, kitten."
She slaps me lightly on the chest. It's playful and I love it.
“I will address all of this with Kael,” I say, keeping my voice low, serious for a moment, before I pull her back in, holding her close, “but first, I want to fight you again.”
Her eyes widen with a flicker of surprise, but it’s the kind of challenge I can see her wanting, deep down. “You want to lose again?” she asks, her voice incredulous. “You’re insane .”
I grin, loving the fire in her eyes. “You know you like it, kitten. To me, it’s foreplay. But I’m not going to let you get away so easily this time.”
She pushes off me with a laugh, setting herself up for the next round. She’s already moving, positioning herself, but I’m faster. I can already feel the shift in the air between us, the charge of energy that comes before a fight.
I lunge, quick and precise, but she’s ready, deflecting my strike with a move of her own. We’re back in the rhythm, circling each other, both of us laughing like maniacs.
She’s a wild one, this kitten. I can’t wait to see how far she’ll push me.
And then, in a flash, I hear her voice, calm and still full of mischief. “So,” she says as she lunges, catching me off guard with the swift movement, “you’re not just some savage animal who enjoys the fight. You’re planning something with me, aren’t you, Torin?”
I pause, just enough for her to pin me for a split second, and I grin. “You think I’m planning something, kitten?” I chuckle darkly, my fingers sliding along her skin. “I’m not the one who has plans for you. You, kitten, are playing a game with me.”
Her smile is savage, hungry. She doesn’t even wait for me to recover. The game is on, and I know we’re both going to enjoy it.